Vegetable conditioner



Nov. 12, 1929. J. w. GLENN ET AL 1,735,748

VEGETABLE C ONDIT I ONEIR Filed Feb. 1, 1928- O f/own;

Patented Nov. 12, 1929 I mans JUGURTHA w. GLENN, FRANK R. HOOD, Ann" aosE Hj is; sQIiWAB. QE srocxroixtl oAnIEonnIa g VEGETABLE connrrronis'n; 2

This invention relates to improvements in vegetable conditioners.

The principal object of this invention is to' produce a device of this character having a large capacity.

I Another object is to produce a device which is inexpensive to manufacture and therefore well within the purchase price of the average user.

A further object is to produce a device wherein minimum amount of power is required to operate the device and one which is portable.

A still further object is to produce a device which will efficiently clean the vegetables passing therethrough, and one'which will not cut or bruise the product being handled.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following g description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the lower end of the machine, 1

Figure 3 is an end .elevation of the upper Y I 39 end of the machine, and

Figure t is a cross section taken on the line 44; of Figure 1. a V

In the proper conditioning of fruit and vegetables, it is essential that the same be cleaned before being shipped, in order tohave the product as presentable as possible and further to give to the customer full weight rather than a large amount of dirt which materially decreases the amount of product being received. This is particularly true in tuberous vegetables.

Applicants have'therefore produced a device which consists essentially of a lower frame 5 having supportable legs 6. This frame carries bearings 7 into which trunnions, carried upon an upper frame work 9, are positioned. This upper frame work has elongated legs 11, having openings 12 therethrough, through which pins 13 may be placed. These pins are adapted to rest upon the top .s the fast 5. gin-i} mafia the 2 ear enac theupperframe. may: beadjustably raised or lowered. Carried in the upper rame/tea; semt ircuIartrwgh 4 h ng partly closed ends as su'ewnat 16 and 17 re- 5 sp tively... Th se nds.seri1c to j r l a plurality of brushes 18 which extend-the entire length of the machine. A hopper is shown at 19 and a spout is shown at 21, while centrally positioned above the semi-circular member 14: is a pipe 22, i which is connected by a hose 23 to a pump 24. This pump is'driven as by a chain or any other suitable means 26 from a shaft 27 carried upon the upper frame 9; This shaft carries gears 28- Whichmesh with gears29 carried upon the ends of the brushes. These gears 29 while rotating but two of the brushes, are provided with means for rotating the remaining brushes. A pulley 31 serves to roto tate the shaft 27'. A drain is shown at 32 and is positioned near the lower end of the semi-circular member 14.

When vegetables such as potatoes are placed'in the hopper 19, they move by gravity through the machine to the spout 21. During the travel of the vegetables over the brushes the same are either supported between the brushes if they are large enough to span the distance between two of the brushes or they may lie between the brushes'if of smaller size. During their movement a spray of water from the pipe 22 plays upon the same and at the same time, the rotation of the brushes. effectively cleans any dirt which may be on the potatoes. The water will drain out of the spout 32 while fresh water willbe pumped into the pipe 22 with considerable force. i

It will thus be seen that we have produced 7 a device which will accomplish all the objects above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim In a conditioning machine of the character described, a lower frame, an upper frame 5 pivoted to said lower frame, means for raising or lowering said upper frame at one end thereof, a semi-circular member, a plurality of brushes spaced parallel to each other and extending from end to end of said semi-circu m lar member, means for rotating said brushes,

a pipe extending parallel to said brushes,

means for delivering fluid to said brushes from said pipe, a' hopper positioned at one end of said semi-circular member, and means for draining said semi-circular member for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. I

I JUGURTI-IA W. GLENN; 2Q FRANK R. HOOD. V JOSEPH B. SCHWAB. 

